Water Resources Management and Structural Change in Rural Australia

Abstract: Water policies in Australia are undergoing fundamental change marked by a switch in emphasis from development of further sources of water to management of available supplies. Quite apart from environmental considerations, the financial and social opportunity costs of supply-related schemes are likely to preclude for some time any significant investment in water development once current projects are completed. This paper discusses the subject in terms of water policy changes, water management strategies, demand management, water market deregulation, supply management, and institutional change.